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Horse Racing spin-off: bush tracks in LAF; SW LA
Posted on 6/8/23 at 3:16 pm
Posted on 6/8/23 at 3:16 pm
quote:
Louisiana has had a strong presence in Thoroughbred racing for a long time
this quote from another topic about jockeys got my brain spinning.
In the 1960's through early 80's, under-sized kids from the country didn't play football and other team sports. They grew up wanting to be jockeys. I moved to Laffy in 1988 and remember seeing bush tracks everywhere throughout the Parish. Seems like every 1-2 miles in the country, and within some of the city limits, there was another track where trainers and riders honed their skills. Most of these tracks are where the Borels, Delahoussayes, Sellers, Romeros, Carmouches, Fauls, etc .... got their start at 7-8 yrs old.
Below is a Google Earth map from 2004 as I did a quick flyby and found 13 bush tracks in a 10 sq. mile radius. I likely missed a few in Youngsville, Judice, Milton areas since they could be over-run with grass or developed. I'm sure 50 yrs ago in the 1970's there were 3x's as many bush tracks in Lafayette Parish.
One of the last few tracks that remained up until 2-3 yrs ago. Kaliste Saloom across from Rue Louis XIV and Chase Bank. Believe the property was sold and will be developed into residences on postage size stamp lots. If you're from Laffy or grew up here, you probably know where most of these tracks were located. (picture from 2004; River Ranch was still an infant... Camelia bridge had just been completed)
For those who grew up elsewhere in rural America near stables and Horse Racing Venues, I'm sure you can remember these bush tracks littered throughout the countryside. Feel free to share your memories or pics.
track as it looks today
This post was edited on 6/8/23 at 3:25 pm
2
Posted on 6/8/23 at 3:46 pm to Got Blaze
I’ve been to one up near st francisville a few times this year. 
Casey’s shadow is still my favorite racing movie. Not nearly as hokey and Disneyish as all the crap we get now.
Casey’s shadow is still my favorite racing movie. Not nearly as hokey and Disneyish as all the crap we get now.
This post was edited on 6/8/23 at 3:47 pm
Posted on 6/8/23 at 4:13 pm to Aspercel
Aspy .... just curious if you know a breeder in Lexington. A HS friend of mine from NOLA went to UK and married Pope McLean Jr. whose family owns Crestwood Farm.
My dad subscribed to Blood Horse for 30 years and raised/bred Qtr horses. He always told me bloodstock services and boarding is where the $$$ is. He never made it big time, just loves watching his horses roam and feed in the pasture.
My dad subscribed to Blood Horse for 30 years and raised/bred Qtr horses. He always told me bloodstock services and boarding is where the $$$ is. He never made it big time, just loves watching his horses roam and feed in the pasture.
Posted on 6/8/23 at 4:27 pm to Got Blaze
I definitely know of the family and the farm. They stood one of my favorite racehorses, get stormy. I was so sad when he died. I don’t know any breeders up there unless you count my
Mom’s college friend who owns stone who I think I only met once
I’m also convinced that there is absolutely no way to make money in horses. Well… maybe as a bloodstock agent. Maybe…
Back home I was just a fan. Most of my track experience was from here in Louisiana.
Mom’s college friend who owns stone who I think I only met once
I’m also convinced that there is absolutely no way to make money in horses. Well… maybe as a bloodstock agent. Maybe…
Back home I was just a fan. Most of my track experience was from here in Louisiana.
This post was edited on 6/8/23 at 4:28 pm
Posted on 6/8/23 at 5:04 pm to Aspercel
quote:
I’m also convinced that there is absolutely no way to make money in horses. Well… maybe as a bloodstock agent. Maybe
probably 1% make very good money, the rest it's like a money pit. Vet bills, feed, fences, feeding & cleaning stall twice a day, etc ... you know what I'm talking about. My dad sent his mares here for AI breeding and boarding Robichaux Ranch seems like they had 200 mares in foal and the labor around the ranch was done by Mexicans.
Posted on 6/8/23 at 6:07 pm to Aspercel
My uncle was a trainer and owned several Quarter horses when I was a kid. We used to go to a couple of tracks in the Lafayette area. One was on Johnston Street just outside of town. Another was in Carencro. My uncle ended up buying that track. They used it to film a scene in Casey's Shadow. My aunt is the woman selling tickets to enter the track in the movie, but you barely get a shot of her.
The characters in that movie, including Walter Matthau's character, were spot on to the kinds of characters you saw there. It was great fun as a kid too. You basically had free reign at those tracks as long as you didn't mess with the horses.
The characters in that movie, including Walter Matthau's character, were spot on to the kinds of characters you saw there. It was great fun as a kid too. You basically had free reign at those tracks as long as you didn't mess with the horses.
Posted on 6/8/23 at 8:16 pm to mdomingue
Does anyone know of any bush tracks still open? I remember going to one in Rayne about 25 years ago. Just remember it being fun and they had great pork chop sandwiches.
Posted on 6/8/23 at 8:36 pm to Aspercel
quote:
I’m also convinced that there is absolutely no way to make money in horses. Well… maybe as a bloodstock agent. Maybe…
My wife makes a pretty good living as an equine vet. Isn’t doing too bad breeding mares and selling yearlings either.
Posted on 6/9/23 at 5:43 am to smartyjones
quote:
Does anyone know of any bush tracks still open? I remember going to one in Rayne about 25 years ago. Just remember it being fun and they had great pork chop sandwiches.
The local racing scene dried up quite a bit. starting in the mid-80s, maybe a little before. I don't know of any such tracks nearby but I don't really follow it any longer.
Posted on 6/9/23 at 6:49 am to Got Blaze
Dora Downs was a well known track in Avoyelles Parish
Posted on 6/9/23 at 6:58 am to smartyjones
The track in Rayne is there and I believe open, I drive by it about once a week. I remember as a kid there was another in the Bosco area near Davis Seafood but looking at Google Earth it looks to be all grown over now but you can still see the outline. There’s another private track/training facility off Mills Rd just north of Gloria Switch on a pretty massive estate/house. I was told that one belongs to the people that used to own Ranch Outlet in Carencro but I don’t know who that is.
Posted on 6/9/23 at 9:24 am to smartyjones
There’s definitely one in st francisville. I’ll have to ask at the barn but I’m pretty sure there’s another one a little more north they run at and one somewhere in ascension.
These are quarter horses.
These are quarter horses.
This post was edited on 6/9/23 at 9:24 am
Posted on 6/9/23 at 4:45 pm to Aspercel
Wasn’t there a track on Greenwell Springs Road not long ago ? I believe it was owned by a family big in the cement business.
Posted on 6/9/23 at 9:13 pm to ElderTiger
There are still a bunch of tracks in the Maurice area. I don't think any racing goes on, just training and stuff.
They used to have a track on Johnston Street at E. Broussard road.
Straight track that ran towards the vermilion river.
They used to have a track on Johnston Street at E. Broussard road.
Straight track that ran towards the vermilion river.
Posted on 6/9/23 at 10:19 pm to Pfft
Two things occurred that ended the bush tracks
1) Colonel Power and the line that produced him gave way to other lines or PEDS. Until Colonel Power this state had a strong play in the quarter horse breeding and training game.
2) Regulation of tracks in general. All of a sudden the race track commission controlled everything. Became a have and have not type situation. If you were out, they sent state police over and shut you down.
1) Colonel Power and the line that produced him gave way to other lines or PEDS. Until Colonel Power this state had a strong play in the quarter horse breeding and training game.
2) Regulation of tracks in general. All of a sudden the race track commission controlled everything. Became a have and have not type situation. If you were out, they sent state police over and shut you down.
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